The Election Commission blamed clerical errors for a letter by the EC being circulated with a BJP seal. Issuing an official clarification, the EC said that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) submitted a document bearing the party seal as part of a clarification requested regarding the 2019 guidelines on the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates. It said that, due to an oversight by the office, the same document was sent to other parties for the same clarification.The response comes as an affidavit attached to a letter dated March 19, 2019, which was circulated to political parties in Kerala with a BJP seal on it. CPI(M) Kerala shared the images of the letter, as it accused that the EC is controlled by the same political power. It also added a snarky remark stating that the party should at least have the “courtesy to maintain separate desks”The CPI(M), posting on X, said, “Have all pretences been dropped by the BJP? It is no secret that the same power centre seems to control both the Election Commission of India and the BJP. Israel Iran WarUS-Israel-Iran War News Live Updates: Iran vows tit-for-tat strike after Trump’s 48hr ultimatum, threatens to hit US-Israel energy facilityIf America strikes us, we should attack Indian cities like Delhi and Mumbai: Ex-Pak envoyTrump Pauses Planned Strikes: US halts Iran attack plan for 5 days; talks called very good and productiveEven then, at least maintain the courtesy of two separate desks. Now, even that seems unnecessary.”It further remarked about the BJP seal on the affidavit and compared the occurrence to an older allegation of EVM tampering, saying, “Seals are being casually swapped. A BJP seal on an Election Commission letter! Just like the old allegation – that no matter which button you press, the lotus appears – here comes another ‘coincidence.’ Shouldn’t someone be paying attention?”It also added a proper verification of the incident and said, “The document has been received by multiple parties. It has been cross-verified with at least two of the recipients. It is also confirmed that the email originated from the official Election Commission source.”In response to the post, the Election Commission issued an official clarification into the matter. It said that it acknowledges the fault in circulation that happened because of a clerical error. It said, ” It has come to our notice that a letter from the Election Commission, bearing the seal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is being circulated across various Malayalam news channels. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) hereby clarifies that this was purely a clerical error, which was identified and rectified immediately.”It gave a complete account of the incident, stating, “The BJP Kerala Unit had recently approached the CEO’s office seeking clarification on the 2019 guidelines regarding the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates. Along with their request, the party submitted a photocopy of the original 2019 directive. The party’s seal was present on that specific copy provided by them.””Due to an oversight, the office failed to notice the party symbol on the submitted document and inadvertently redistributed it to other political parties as part of the requested clarification. The guidelines in question have undergone revisions since 2019, which have already been communicated to all political entities,” it added.According to the statement, the deputy CEO had withdrawn the erroneous document along with a formal letter.”The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer acknowledged the lapse as soon as it was detected. Consequently. On March 21, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer issued a formal letter withdrawing the erroneous document.The withdrawal notice was dispatched to all political parties, District Election Officers, and Returning Officers.”It further urged to refrain from spreading further confusion and claimed that the commission remains free from any external interference. “The public and media are requested to refrain from spreading misleading messages based on this clerical error. The Election Commission maintains a rigorous and foolproof system to ensure that the electoral process remains free from any external interference or influence,” it said.Kerala is set to undergo polling in one phase on April 9, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndia’s Nuclear Submarine Trio Is What China and Pakistan Should Pay Attention ToQawwali Meets Politics: LJP MP Shambhavi Chaudhary’s Dhurandhar Dig Targets Opposition In Lok Sabha‘Your Kindness Won’t Be Forgotten’: Iran Thanks Kashmir Donors For War Relief’India Shining Speech’: Oppn Hits Out At PM Modi’s Remarks On West Asia, Demands Discussion In Parl’India Deserves Deepest Respect: Russia Praises Delhi’s Strategic Autonomy, Confirms PM Modi’s VisitIndia Busts Major Spy Network With 50 Locations Targeted, Minors Among 18 Held From Kashmir To DelhiTransgender Bill Sparks Massive Backlash As Activists Say Identity Cannot Be Decided By The StateAmid Hormuz Crisis, PM Modi Promises Fuel From All Sources As Indian Ships Navigate War Zone’West Asia Crisis Poses New Challenges For India’: PM Modi Warns On Economy Energy And SecurityJaishankar Pushes India-Russia Trade Expansion With Focus On 100 Billion Target And New Deals123Photostories5 most magnificent palaces of South India worth travelling forWhy you stretch unconsciously: The hidden stress signal your body uses, and how to fix itHow to make Amla Turmeric Juice at home and 3 reasons to drink it before your breakfast dailyInside Axar Patel’s Luxury Car Collection: Top 3 cars owned by the cricketer7 science-backed reasons soaked walnuts are great for your brain and heart, and beyond5 signs you might be a toxic co‑workerMaharashtra’s top 5 Tier III cities attracting real estate investors and home buyers in 2026Harbhajan Singh and Geeta Basra’s ₹7 crore bungalow in Jalandhar, Punjab is a personalised sanctuary rooted in cricket, memories and family valuesTOISA 2025 winner list (part 2): Sheetal Devi, Samrat Rana, Vaibhav Gautam, and more lead the honoursLessons you need to learn from Goddess Durga based on your birth date123Hot PicksIran newsStock Market todayLaGuardia AirportGold rate todayIncome Tax CalculatorPublic holidays March 2026Bank Holidays MarchTop TrendingBSEB Class 12th ResultJason GarrettBengaluru MurderKochi Vaduthala Family IncidentBengaluru Pink MetroConor McGregor Next FightSilver Rate TodayHDFC Bank ShareDonald TrumpBihar Board Science Topper
The Election Commission blamed clerical errors for a letter by the EC being circulated with a BJP seal. Issuing an official clarification, the EC said that the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) submitted a document bearing the party seal as part of a clarification requested regarding the 2019 guidelines on the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates. It said that, due to an oversight by the office, the same document was sent to other parties for the same clarification.The response comes as an affidavit attached to a letter dated March 19, 2019, which was circulated to political parties in Kerala with a BJP seal on it. CPI(M) Kerala shared the images of the letter, as it accused that the EC is controlled by the same political power. It also added a snarky remark stating that the party should at least have the “courtesy to maintain separate desks”The CPI(M), posting on X, said, “Have all pretences been dropped by the BJP? It is no secret that the same power centre seems to control both the Election Commission of India and the BJP. Even then, at least maintain the courtesy of two separate desks. Now, even that seems unnecessary.”It further remarked about the BJP seal on the affidavit and compared the occurrence to an older allegation of EVM tampering, saying, “Seals are being casually swapped. A BJP seal on an Election Commission letter! Just like the old allegation – that no matter which button you press, the lotus appears – here comes another ‘coincidence.’ Shouldn’t someone be paying attention?”It also added a proper verification of the incident and said, “The document has been received by multiple parties. It has been cross-verified with at least two of the recipients. It is also confirmed that the email originated from the official Election Commission source.”In response to the post, the Election Commission issued an official clarification into the matter. It said that it acknowledges the fault in circulation that happened because of a clerical error. It said, ” It has come to our notice that a letter from the Election Commission, bearing the seal of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is being circulated across various Malayalam news channels. The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) hereby clarifies that this was purely a clerical error, which was identified and rectified immediately.“It gave a complete account of the incident, stating, “The BJP Kerala Unit had recently approached the CEO’s office seeking clarification on the 2019 guidelines regarding the publication of criminal antecedents of candidates. Along with their request, the party submitted a photocopy of the original 2019 directive. The party’s seal was present on that specific copy provided by them.”“Due to an oversight, the office failed to notice the party symbol on the submitted document and inadvertently redistributed it to other political parties as part of the requested clarification. The guidelines in question have undergone revisions since 2019, which have already been communicated to all political entities,” it added.According to the statement, the deputy CEO had withdrawn the erroneous document along with a formal letter.“The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer acknowledged the lapse as soon as it was detected. Consequently. On March 21, the Deputy Chief Electoral Officer issued a formal letter withdrawing the erroneous document.The withdrawal notice was dispatched to all political parties, District Election Officers, and Returning Officers.”It further urged to refrain from spreading further confusion and claimed that the commission remains free from any external interference. “The public and media are requested to refrain from spreading misleading messages based on this clerical error. The Election Commission maintains a rigorous and foolproof system to ensure that the electoral process remains free from any external interference or influence,” it said.Kerala is set to undergo polling in one phase on April 9, while the counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.
